Are You A Good Eyewitness? Are You A Good Eyewitness?

Picking Cotton Activity Are you a Good Eyewitness Picking Cotton on 60 Minutes

Forgetting Forgetting is a result of either: Forgetting is a result of either: 1. Encoding Failure 2. Storage Decay OR 3. Retrieval Failure

Forgetting As Encoding Failure Information never enters the memory system Information never enters the memory system Attention is selective Attention is selective we cannot attend to everything in our environment we cannot attend to everything in our environment William James said that we would be as bad off if we remembered everything as we would be if we remembered nothing William James said that we would be as bad off if we remembered everything as we would be if we remembered nothing

Encoding Failure: Which Penny is the Real Deal?

Forgetting As Storage Decay Ebbinghaus’s study concluded that forgetting occurs rapidly at first and then levels off over time. His famous forgetting curve is below. Ebbinghaus’s study concluded that forgetting occurs rapidly at first and then levels off over time. His famous forgetting curve is below.

Forgetting As Interference Learning some items may disrupt retrieval of other information Learning some items may disrupt retrieval of other information Proactive(forward acting) Interference Proactive(forward acting) Interference disruptive effect of prior learning on recall of new information disruptive effect of prior learning on recall of new information Retroactive (backwards acting) Interference Retroactive (backwards acting) Interference disruptive effect of new learning on recall of old information disruptive effect of new learning on recall of old information

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? Time Warner cable changes the channel numbers on your TV and you keep clicking the old channel numbers when trying to turn the channels instead of new ones. Time Warner cable changes the channel numbers on your TV and you keep clicking the old channel numbers when trying to turn the channels instead of new ones.

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? Get a new cell phone number and your old one keeps getting in the way of you remembering your new one. Get a new cell phone number and your old one keeps getting in the way of you remembering your new one.

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? Teacher learning names of current students makes them forget the names of last years’ students. Teacher learning names of current students makes them forget the names of last years’ students.

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? Keep putting in locker combination from last year when trying to open this year’s locker? Keep putting in locker combination from last year when trying to open this year’s locker?

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? You were an expert skier but after learning to snowboard, you have had trouble getting used to skiing again. You were an expert skier but after learning to snowboard, you have had trouble getting used to skiing again.

Self Quiz: Retroactive or Proactive? Mom reorganizes kitchen and you look for a plate in the place it used to be. Mom reorganizes kitchen and you look for a plate in the place it used to be.

Revisiting Terms: Retrieval Failure Tip of the Tongue phenomenon: when we are certain we know something yet we are unable to recall it. Tip of the Tongue phenomenon: when we are certain we know something yet we are unable to recall it. Relates to retrieval failure, usually priming or external cues will help you recall the information you are looking for. Relates to retrieval failure, usually priming or external cues will help you recall the information you are looking for.

I am going to show you a list of words. I am going to show you a list of words. Your task is to memorize the list. Your task is to memorize the list. When I am finished I will ask you to recall the words by writing them down on a half sheet of paper. When I am finished I will ask you to recall the words by writing them down on a half sheet of paper.

Bed

Clock

Dream

Night

Turn

Doze

Mattress

Snooze

Nod

Tired

Night

Artichoke

Insomnia

Rest

Toss

Night

Yawn

Alarm

Nap

Snore

Pillow

Remember as many words as you can. Write them down on your half sheet of paper.

Recall as many words as you can. 1.Bed 2.Clock 3.Dream 4.Night 5.Turn 6.Doze 7.Mattress 8.Snooze 9.Nod 10.Tired 11.Night 12.Artichoke 13.Insomnia 14.Rest 15.Toss 16.Night 17.Yawn 18.Alarm 19.Nap 20.Snore 21.Pillow Primacy effect Recency effectRepetition /Rehearsal Von Restorff Effect (Distinctiveness) Semantic Organization

Did you remember the word sleep? FALSE MEMORY!!!!

Motivated Forgetting Motivated Forgetting is the idea that people unknowingly revise their history. Ex: I broke up with her; she didn’t break up with me. Motivated Forgetting is the idea that people unknowingly revise their history. Ex: I broke up with her; she didn’t break up with me. What purpose might motivated forgetting serve? What purpose might motivated forgetting serve?

Motivated Forgetting As A Freudian Concept Repression: idea put forth by psychoanalytic theorists like Freud which states anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories can be banished from consciousness. Repression: idea put forth by psychoanalytic theorists like Freud which states anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories can be banished from consciousness. Ex: child abuse, rape, incest may be repressed and not be able to be actively recalled. Ex: child abuse, rape, incest may be repressed and not be able to be actively recalled.

Freud believed Repression was a Defense Mechanism Freud argued individuals often “forgot” traumatic incidents to protect their self concepts and to minimize external anxiety. Freud argued individuals often “forgot” traumatic incidents to protect their self concepts and to minimize external anxiety. Freud argued “Forgotten” incidents are banished the “unconscious.” Freud argued “Forgotten” incidents are banished the “unconscious.” The incidents may cause you to have unexplained phobias or problems, that won’t be helped until you uncover the incident. The incidents may cause you to have unexplained phobias or problems, that won’t be helped until you uncover the incident.

Repression and Controversy of Child Abuse In the late 1980’s a book came out called “The Courage to Heal” which encouraged people to recover memories of abuse. In the late 1980’s a book came out called “The Courage to Heal” which encouraged people to recover memories of abuse. Following the book, “Recover Memory Therapists” arose in great numbers and many people began reporting incidents of “repressed” abuse. Following the book, “Recover Memory Therapists” arose in great numbers and many people began reporting incidents of “repressed” abuse. Sometimes “repressed memories” were used as evidence against individuals in court cases. Sometimes “repressed memories” were used as evidence against individuals in court cases.

Controversy of Repressed Memories Although there have been documented cases of forgotten trauma, many psychologists argued that some repressed memories may have been constructed by therapists. Although there have been documented cases of forgotten trauma, many psychologists argued that some repressed memories may have been constructed by therapists. The False Memory Syndrome Foundation: argues it is possible for individual’s relationships to center around a false belief. The False Memory Syndrome Foundation: argues it is possible for individual’s relationships to center around a false belief. Some psychologists have argued against the very existence of repressed memories since most memories that take place during stressful events are remembered more vividly. Some psychologists have argued against the very existence of repressed memories since most memories that take place during stressful events are remembered more vividly.

Defining Memory Construction Memory Construction refers to the idea that memories are NOT objective recordings of the actual events we experience. Memory Construction refers to the idea that memories are NOT objective recordings of the actual events we experience. Our memories are often affected by our pre- existing schemas and involve information filtering and interpretations. Our memories are often affected by our pre- existing schemas and involve information filtering and interpretations. We can have real memories of events that never took place or that are filled with inaccuracy because we fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses. We can have real memories of events that never took place or that are filled with inaccuracy because we fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses.

Elizabeth Loftus’ Research on Eyewitness Testimony Loftus had individuals watch car accidents and then recorded results based on questioning procedures. Loftus had individuals watch car accidents and then recorded results based on questioning procedures. Depiction of actual accident Memory construction

Loftus’s Research Subjects were asked to reveal how fast they thought the cars were going. Subjects were asked to reveal how fast they thought the cars were going. Question consisted of “How fast were the cars going when they _______________ each other. Question consisted of “How fast were the cars going when they _______________ each other. Loftus filled in the blanks with different words including: bumped, collided, contacted, hit, or smash. Loftus filled in the blanks with different words including: bumped, collided, contacted, hit, or smash. Speed was elevated to great degree when “smashed” was used as key verb and subjects were likely to remember broken glass when there was none. Speed was elevated to great degree when “smashed” was used as key verb and subjects were likely to remember broken glass when there was none.

Loftus Videos The Bunny Effect The Bunny Effect The Bunny Effect The Bunny Effect Lost in a Mall Lost in a Mall Lost in a Mall Lost in a Mall

Misinformation Effect and Memory Construction Misinformation Effect: incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event. Misinformation Effect: incorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event. Children are most susceptible to the misinformation effect. Children are most susceptible to the misinformation effect.

Memory Construction Continued Source Amnesia: attributing to the wrong source an event that we experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined (misattribution) Source Amnesia: attributing to the wrong source an event that we experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined (misattribution) Ex: Reagan’s story about WWII gunner was actually from a movie he saw. Ex: Reagan’s story about WWII gunner was actually from a movie he saw.

Memory Construction Overview People fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses and assumptions People fill in memory gaps with plausible guesses and assumptions Imagining events can create false memories Imagining events can create false memories Children's eyewitness recall Children's eyewitness recall Child sexual abuse does occur Child sexual abuse does occur Some innocent people suffer false accusations Some innocent people suffer false accusations Some guilty cast doubt on true testimony Some guilty cast doubt on true testimony

Random Memory Info: Would You Want Photographic Memory? The technical term for photographic memory is eidetic imagery: which refers to an especially clear and persistent form of memory that is quite rare. The technical term for photographic memory is eidetic imagery: which refers to an especially clear and persistent form of memory that is quite rare. Examples Include: Examples Include: Being able to re-read a book in your mind after having read it once. Being able to re-read a book in your mind after having read it once. Mental images appear “outside” and can last up to several minutes. Mental images appear “outside” and can last up to several minutes.

Random Memory Info Levels of Processing Theory: the explanation for the fact that information that is more thoroughly connected to meaningful items in long-term memory (more “deeply processed”) will be remembered better. Levels of Processing Theory: the explanation for the fact that information that is more thoroughly connected to meaningful items in long-term memory (more “deeply processed”) will be remembered better. Ex: Learn new information best when you are able relate new terms to what you already know. Encoding for meaning also causes the “deepest” processing. I.E. “Bear Experiment” Ex: Learn new information best when you are able relate new terms to what you already know. Encoding for meaning also causes the “deepest” processing. I.E. “Bear Experiment”

Review: How Can Chapter 9 Concepts Help You Study?